Qualifying Information/Times/TV

Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Thursday, May 21 at 7:10pm/et, TV-SPEED, no scheduled re-air;
AND live via radio at PRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio.

RACE RUNDOWNnews and links

Reutimann wins Coca-Cola 600: #00-David Reutimann won the Coca Cola 600 [actually 340.5] at Lowe's Motor Speedway, his first career win in 75 races. Reutimann stayed out and didn't pit when the final caution for another rain shower which happened on lap 227. Reutimann becomes the 20th driver to win a race in all three national series [Cup, Nationwide, Trucks]. #39-Newman [the pole sitter[ finished 2nd, followed by #7-Robby Gordon [his first top five since Watkins Glen in Aug 2007 and first oval top five since a 5th at Talladega in April 2004], #99-Edwards, #83-Vickers, #18-Busch, #9-Kahne, #42-Montoya, #20-Logano and #17-Kenseth. Points leader #24-Gordon finished 14th and maintains the points lead. There were 14 lead changes among 10 drivers and 6 cautions for 40 laps.
For race results, awards and more on the Coca Cola 600 Race Results Page.(5-25-2009)

#00 is the 102nd car number to win: when David Reutimann won the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Monday, May 25, 2009, it was the first Sprint Cup win ever for a car number 00, being the 102nd different car number [as far as I can calculate] that has won in the Sprint Cup series. It was also David Reutimann's first Sprint Cup Series win.
See my Win by Car Number page for the history of car numbers.(5-25-2009)

NASCAR takes #7 rear-end housing: During post-race inspection, NASCAR confiscated #7-Robby Gordon's rear-end housing and took it back to its R&D Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation.(SPEEDtv)(5-25-2009)

Racing Resources Says …Sprint Cup Series Stats
* David Reutimann won the rain-shortened Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway after a strategic move that resulted in his first series victory. Reutimann was 14th when the rain came, but elected not to pit and took over the lead before the final red flag for rain was displayed. Reutimann posted his first career victory in his 75th series start. He started 21st. Reutimann completed 227 of the 400 laps. The last time the 600 was shortened by rain was in 2003 when Jimmie Johnson won with 276 of 400 laps completed. Reutimann became the eighth different winner in 12 races this season, joining Kyle Busch (3), Mark Martin (2) and Matt Kenseth (2), and Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch with one each. Reutimann led once, for the final five laps, all under caution.
* Reutimann scored his first victory in five races at Lowe's. His previous best Lowe's finish was 10th in this race one year ago. He is the sixth first-time winner of the 600, joining Gordon, David Pearson, Bobby Labonte, Kenseth and Casey Mears.
* This is the first victory for Michael Waltrip Racing. It is the third team to score its first victory in the Coca-Cola 600, joining Paul McDuffie Racing (Joe Lee Johnson, 1960) and Rahmoc (Neil Bonnett, 1983).
* Reutimann climbed from 15th to 13th in points, just six points behind 12th-place Mark Martin. Reutimann has ranked among the top 15 all season.
* This is the first series victory for Toyota at Lowe's. This is the first time that the #00 has won a NASCAR race. The previous best finish by the #00 was third by Junior Johnson at Martinsville in April 1964.
* The last postponed series race came at Richmond on Sept. 7, 2008, when the Saturday night race was moved to Sunday.
* This was the second rain-shortened race in 2009. They ran 152 of 200 laps at Daytona.
* This was the eighth Coca-Cola 600 run on May 25 -- three have been rain-shortened, 1968 (won by Buddy Baker), 1997 (Jeff Gordon) and 2003 (Jimmie Johnson).
* This was just the 23rd time in 101 races at Lowe's the race was won from a starting position outside the top 10.
* Kyle Busch led the most laps (173). He has led over 2,000 laps in NASCAR competition this season.
* Ryan Newman (finished second) scored his sixth top-10 finish in 2009, all in the last eight races. Newman has scored top-5 finishes in the last four races. He climbed from eighth to seventh in the points standings, his highest points ranking of the season. Newman was 15th before the caution and one of three drivers who elected to stay out, thus advancing his position.
* Robby Gordon (third) scored his best finish of the season. It was his best finish since he finished second at Watkins Glen in August 2005. Gordon was 24th before the caution and one of three drivers who elected to stay out, thus advancing his position.
* Carl Edwards (fourth) posted his seventh top-10 finish in nine races at Lowe's. Edwards scored just his second top-5 finish of the season. He had five top-5 finishes after 12 races one year ago. He climbed from 12th to 11th in points.
* Brian Vickers (fifth) tied his best finish of the season set at Atlanta. He climbed from 17th to 16th in points.
* Joey Logano (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie of the three rookies in the race. Logano celebrated his 19th birthday Sunday. This is the fourth time this season that a rookie has scored a top-10 finish. Logano matched his career-best finish of ninth for the third time this season, all in the last four races.
* Jimmie Johnson (13th) has led in 10 of the 12 races this season including the Coca-Cola 600, more than any other driver. Johnson remained fourth in points.
* Jeff Burton (25th) ended a nine-race streak of top-15 finishes since Las Vegas.
* Clint Bowyer (36th) has finished 18th or worse in his last six races. He has dropped from second to 17th in the points during that six-race period.
* Forty-two of the 43 cars were running at the finish, the most in any race at Lowe's.(ESPN)(5-27-2009)

Race Fast Facts - Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte
David Reutimann won the Coca-Cola 600, his first victory in 75 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 2009.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in five races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
Ryan Newman (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 17 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2009.
Robby Gordon (third) posted his first top-10 finish in 18 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
Joey Logano (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Jeff Gordon leads the point standings by 44 points over Tony Stewart.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-25-2009)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Dover:
No teams jumped into the top 35, #34-Raines loses points, Gordon increases his lead over 36th
34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 1017, +181
35) #34-Rainesi/Earnhart Ganassi: 882, 46 points ahead of 36ththese teams/ drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 836, 46 points out of 35th
37) #71-Gilliland/TRG: 756, -126
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(5-25-2009)

Awesome Salute: just before 3:00pm/et, NASCAR Threw the caution flag, will stop the cars on the front stretch, shut the cars off, an observe a moment of silence as requested by President Obama:
On Memorial Day weekend, President Obama calls on the American people to join him in paying tribute to America’s veterans, servicemen and women – particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice - and their families (whitehouse.gov)
Crews lined up on pit road, U.S.A. flags were put at half mast and the crowd, for the most part was quiet. What a great tribute..

Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Charlotte: (and their finish)
Caution 1: no driver down a lap
Caution 2: no driver down a lap on the track
Caution 3: no driver down a lap on the track
Caution 4: no driver down a lap on the track
Caution 5: #6-Ragan, 24th
Caution 6: #47-Ambrose, 26th
(5-25-2009)

Coca Cola 600 postponed until Monday: rain has caused the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway to be postponed until Monday, May 25th at 12:00pm/et. The race will be aired live on FOX.(5-24-2009) Comment here

Pit Stall Selections - Coca Cola 600: The selections for pit stalls of the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #39-Newman chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters], while outside pole sitter #18-Busch took pit stall 15 the next with an opening in front of it and #24-Gordon, who starts 3rd tool stall 22, the 3rd with an opening. #48-Johnson, who starts 5th, chose the final pit stall. See the pit selection chart on the Charlotte Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-23-2009)

NEWS, PRACTICE, QUALIFYING and RESULTSnews and links

Happy Hour practice for the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is over, after 8 minutes of practice, rain canceled the rest of the practice, all but four drivers got out on the track, the top-five:
#48-Johnson 183.387
#99-Edwards 183.231
#11-Hamlin 183.150
#20-Logano 183.094
#83-Vickers 182.983
Slowest: #07-Mears 165.680 and #19-Sadler 178.136
no speed: #9-Kahne, #55-Waltrip, #34-Raines and #13-Papis
incident: #7-Gordon slid up the track and smacked the wall, doing some damage to the right side.
See average speeds, best speeds, laps run on my Coca Cola 600 Practice Speeds page.(5-23-2009)

First Saturday practice for the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is over, the top-five:
#11-Hamlin 184.338
#16-Biffle 184.143
#07-Mears 184.112
#18-Busch 184.068
#83-Vickers 183.961
slowest: #34-Raines 178.642 and #71-Gilliland 179.122
incident: #26-McMurray and #43-Sorenson made contact, Sorenson smacked the wall and pancaked the right side, the #26 has some damage to the right side of the car.
See average speeds, best speeds, laps run on my Coca Cola 600 Practice Speeds page.(5-23-2009)

Newman wins pole for Coca-Cola 600: #39-Ryan Newman won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway with a lap of 188.475mph for his 1st pole of 2009 and for Stewart-Haas Racing, 8th at Lowe's and 44th of his career. It is the 9th consecutive season Newman has won at least one pole. #18-Busch will start 2nd followed by: #24-Gordon, #5-Martin, #48-Johnson, #9-Kahne, #09-Bliss, #83-Vickers, #42-Montoya and #21-Elliott.
The non Top-35 drivers who made the race: #09-Bliss, #21-Elliott, #87-Nemechek, #82-Speed, #66-Blaney, #71-Gilliland, #13-Papis and #36-Riggs
The four drivers who failed to qualify: #41-Yeley, #73-Garvey, #64-TBodine and #06-Starr.
See pole progression, qualifying order, qualifying results, starting lineup on my Coca Cola 600 Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(5-21-2009)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Coca Cola 600:
Ryan Newman won the Coors Light Pole Award for the COCA-COLA 600 with a lap of 28.651 seconds, 188.475 mph.
This is his 44th pole in 272 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. His first pole in the series came at the 2001 COCA-COLA 600
This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2009.
This is his eighth pole in 17 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2009 and his third in 11 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
Jeff Gordon (third) posted his 22nd top-10 start at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. It is his ninth in 12 races this season.
Joey Logano (14th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-21-2009)

Qualifying Order for the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done. The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #83-Vickers, the final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #42-Montoya. The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #41-Yeley with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #71-Gilliland. See the full qualifying order on the Charlotte Qualifying Page.(5-21-2009)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Charlotte [Coke 600]:
No teams jumped into the top 35, #34-Raines and #7-Gordon increased their leads over 36th
34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 847, +120
35) #34-Rainesi/Earnhart Ganassi: 831, 104 points ahead of 36ththese teams/ drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 727, 104 points out of 35th
37) #71-Gilliland/TRG: 674, -157
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(5-9-2009)

What happens if qualifying gets rained out?After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
#2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
#6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
#7) - Qualifying Order Position
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

Single File Restarts with 20 laps to go: NASCAR will use single-file lineups for restarts with 20 laps remaining in all three national series this year, NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said today. The previous rule called for single-file restarts with only 10 laps remaining. All other restarts had lapped cars on the inside lane. NASCAR is still allowing for the first driver one-lap down [Lucky Dog] to get back on the lead lap until there are 10 laps left in the race. Pemberton said the rule was to allow the leaders more room to race following a caution in the waning laps. “We’ve been talking to the crews, teams and drivers and we felt like it was a time to make a change,” Pemberton said. “We haven’t taken away the lucky dog and haven’t hurt anybody from getting a lap back.”(SceneDaily)(2-12-2009) Comment here

Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: NASCAR announced in January that starting with the Cup race at California, teams outside the top 35 in owners points will be allowed to qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The Nationwide and Truck Series used this procedure at Daytona. Sprint Cup didn't use the new procedure at Daytona due to the unique/somewhat complicated qualifying session/races there. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers).

Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: NASCAR announced an update to the past champion’s provisional rule in the Sprint Cup Series for 2007. Beginning this season, a past champion’s provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the season. In addition, a team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. Previously, there was no limit on usage of the past champion’s provisional over the course of the 36-race season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. "As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.”(NASCAR PR)
This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional.
See my 2009 Past Champions Provisional Page for more.

RACE RECORDS, NOTES, RULES and NEWS

Chase Notes: #5-Mark Martin’s second win in the last four races lifted him from 15th all the way to 11th in the standings. Lots of races left, but the #5 team under Alan Gustafson looks strong. Another podium finish for #14-Tony Stewart (3rd at Darlington) gets him to second in the standings. Another strong run by #39-Ryan Newman (4th) makes it a happy place at Stewart-Haas these days. #33-Clint Bowyer’s 37th at Darlington tumbled him out of the Top 12. Over the last five, Bowyer has gone from 2nd to 13th, and has managed only 394 points during that period (Stewart has scored 774). See more on my Chase Stats after Darlington page.(5-18-2009)

Coca-Cola 600 Rookies Notes: #20-Joey Logano was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the May 9 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Logano scored a ninth-place finish, his second top-10 of the 2009 season. He equaled his best effort in 14 Sprint Cup Series races and captured top Raybestos Rookie honors for the eighth time this season. Logano led once for 19 laps at Darlington and became the first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at Darlington since Kasey Kahne led three times for 24 laps in the 2004 spring race. Logano has led four times in three races for 24 laps this season. Logano leads #82-Scott Speed by 12 points (122-110) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 24 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Kenseth is the only Raybestos Rookie to win in 49 previous Coca-Cola 600 races. Kenseth captured the 2000 race by .573-seconds over Bobby Labonte. Jimmie Johnson is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the pole position in 49 previous Coca-Cola 600 races. Johnson took the top starting spot for the 2002 race.(Raybestos), see rookie standings, history, news and more on my 2009 Rookies page.(5-21-2009)

American Red Cross Joins 3M and Greg Biffle: For the second year in a row, the American Red Cross is encouraging loyal NASCAR fans to donate blood through the Red Cross by joining Red Cross Racing. Red Cross Racing is a program designed to increase the number of blood donors and the number of times they donate. Participants of this program can get points for a variety of activities including giving blood and/or platelets, and recruiting other blood donors. #16-Greg Biffle has signed on again as a Red Cross spokesperson this racing season to raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood donations. Biffle, a Red Cross blood donor and member of its National Celebrity Cabinet, will help get the word out to the NASCAR fans across the country about the importance of blood donation. Thanks to a generous donation from 3M, Biffle will wear the Red Cross fire suit and drive the #16 Ford Fusion with the full Red Cross paint scheme at the Sprint Cup Series races in Charlotte on Memorial Day weekend and in Atlanta on Labor Day weekend. This year, the program offers participants new and exciting rewards for blood donation activities. Registrants have the chance to get points and exchange them for NASCAR-themed prizes, such as limited edition die-cast cars. Fans can join the program by visiting redcrossracing.com, and can begin accruing points after registering.(PR Newswire)(5-21-2009)

CompUSA on the #71 at Lowe's; team still looking for sponsorship: David Gilliland and TRG Motorsports are ready to tackle 600 miles of racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. The team was able to take away a lot data from last weekend to apply to race this Sunday. The key component will be a different # 71 CompUSA/TRG Motorsports Chevy than the team ran in the Open. Kevin Buckler, TRG Motorsports team principal, is forging ahead with limited resources to keep this team going on the track. "The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the biggest races on the schedule and I wanted to make sure we put our best stuff on the track," Buckler said. "The car we ran in the Open we didn't think was going to do we needed in the 600 so we brought a different one. We have very limited resources with this team so we are picking our battles very carefully and trying to perform at a very level on selected stages. We still need to land that sponsor/partner that can help us take this great little team forward into the future."(TRG Motorsports PR)(5-20-2009)

R+L Carriers on the #17: The #17 Ford will carry the green and gold colors of R+L carriers this weekend for the Coke 600. It will be the first of four races this season with R+L Carriers as the primary on the #17 Ford. Kenseth has carried the R+L Carriers paint scheme 10 times since 2006.(Roush Feneway PR), see an image of the car on my #17 Team Schemes Page.(5-20-2009)

Air Force sponsoring Sorenson at Lowes: #43 Air Force Dodge driver Reed Sorenson has scored the 13th most points over the last four races and climbed seven positions since Texas. The Richard Petty Motorsports driver hope to keep that string going this weekend when he races in the 600-mile Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.(Richard Petty Motorsports PR), see an image of the scheme on my #43 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2009)

Team Lowe’s Honors Military, Lowe’s Employees w/Patriotic Scheme: Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus, along with six Lowe’s employees with more than 30 years of military duty, unveiled the #48 Lowe’s Chevy that Johnson will run in the Memorial Day weekend Sprint Cup event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “We typically don’t have a lot of special paint schemes throughout the year,” said Johnson, who will be trying for this fourth win in the Memorial Day weekend race. “This event is usually an exception though. It means a lot to honor our country and all the people in the military. Both my grandfathers served so I understand the importance of showing our support.” The car’s design carries the names of 12,548 Lowe’s employees who are military veterans or reservists. The names are showcased on the car’s hood and decklid. The remaining paint scheme was inspired partly by Knaus who worked with Lowe’s to create the patriotic-themed car to help honor the military. “For some reason those patriotic schemes we used to run back home have always stuck in my mind,” said Knaus. “They were special and meant something to us. Last year a serviceman approached me at Pocono and told me how much the paint schemes Lowe’s has during Memorial Day weekend meant to those that serve. So I really wanted to work with Lowe’s and the team to create an extra-special one this year.” Knaus, who got his start in racing by working with his father’s team in Rockford, Ill., used images of the red, white and blue schemes his father drove to help develop the concept for the Memorial Day weekend car. In support of the Memorial Day holiday, Lowe’s will offer a 10% discount to all active, reserve, honorably discharged, and retired military personnel and their immediate families. In addition, a special page has been set up on LowesRacing.com giving fans the opportunity to thank the military members who mean the most to them by posting photographs and stories of themselves, friends or family members on the site. Lowe’s employees also may visit the site to locate the placement of their name on the car.(Lowe's Racing), see images of the scheme on my #48 Team Schemes page.(5-18-2009) Comment here

Gold Walls at LMS: The retaining walls at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be gold this year in honor of the speedway's 50 years of racing. A crew of eight painted the walls using 800 gallons of paint and a process called "fogging" to do the job. More than 190 man hours went into making sure the walls were gold before cars got on track.(www.coke600.com)(5-23-2009)

50th Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race Festivities to Feature Military Salute: During the pre-race show for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, Lowe's Motor Speedway officials will salute the U.S. Armed Forces with a military demonstration, special awards, military band performances and a special presentation with Medal of Honor recipients. The pre-race festivities will also include a parade lap by Bobby Allison, an inspirational message from Franklin Graham and appearances on stage by Miss USA Kristen Dalton and "Dancing with the Stars" winner and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson. Gates will open at 11 a.m. Below is an approximate timeline of the
events:2:15 p.m.
Coca-Cola 600 Grand Marshal Bobby Allison will take a ceremonial parade lap
around the speedway in the No. 12 Coca-Cola-sponsored 1969 Mercury Cyclone
he drove to victory in the 1971 Coca-Cola 600.2:27 p.m.
Nine Medal of Honor recipients will be honored on the pre-race stage.
Honorees include World War II veteran, Charles Murray Jr.; Korean War
veterans Hector Cafferata Jr. and Rudolfo Hernandez; and Vietnam War
veterans John Baker Jr., Robert Howard, Leonard Keller, Gary Littrell,
Walter Marm and Robert Patterson.2:30 p.m.
World-renowned evangelist and North Carolina-native Franklin Graham will deliver a 30-minute inspirational message to fans from the pre-race stage located at the superspeedway's start-finish line, and it will be broadcast on the speedway's public address system. Graham will deliver the invocation before the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and he will also assist with Motor Racing Outreach's Sunday service to the drivers and team members in the garage.3:00 p.m.
Fans will be entertained by the Marine Marching Band, Navy Rock Band, U.S. Air Force Tops in Blue and the 82nd Airborne Division Chorus.4:40 p.m.
The U.S. Army will conduct a military demonstration on the frontstretch involving Blackhawk helicopters, military vehicles, a Howitzer demonstration and more than 2,000 troops. The forces will secure the frontstretch ballfield and a Chinook helicopter will make a special delivery that will include a U.S. flag that was flown over the headquarters of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.5:09 p.m.
A host of VIPs will grace the pre-race stage prior to driver introductions, including Miss USA Kristen Dalton, Honorary Race Official Shawn Johnson and Grand Marshal Bobby Allison.5:35 p.m.
Following driver introductions, the Black Daggers, the official U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team, will perform a jump over the speedway.
Additionally, the Presentation of Colors and "21-Gun Salute" will be performed by soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg. "Taps" will be performed by the 82nd Airborne Division Bugler from Fort Bragg. During the national anthem, 100 family members of service men and women will unfurl a large American flag that's shaped like the United States on the frontstretch grass. The Air Force Tops in Blue band will perform the national anthem. The pre-race flyover will feature four F-15s from the 122nd Fighter Squadron and
159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard.
Tickets for all Coca-Cola 600 Week events are available at the gates on event days or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket services department at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS)(5-23-2009)

Medal of Honor Recipients honored at LMS: On Friday night, the Speedway Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway was host to a very special gathering of America's military heroes on the eve of Memorial Day weekend -- honoring nine Medal of Honor recipients whose bravery and valor earned them the military's highest award. There are just 97 living recipients of the Medal of Honor today. Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame recognized the Medal of Honor recipients and presented them with their commemorative brick for the military tribute at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The recipients:
-- Colonel Charles P. Murray, Jr., United States Army (Retired)
-- Private Hector A. Cafferata, Jr., United States Marine Corps (Retired)
-- Corporate Rodolfo P. Hernandez, United States Army (Retired)
-- Colonel Walter J. Marm, Jr., United States Army (Retired)
-- Master Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr., United States Army (Retired)
-- Sergeant Leonard B. Keller, United States Army (Retired)
-- Sergeant Robert Patterson, United States Army (Retired)
-- CSM Gary L. Littrell, United States Army (Retired)
-- Colonel Robert L. Howard, United States Army (Retired) was unable to attend.(5-23-2009)

Gold-Medal Gymnast Shawn Johnson named Coca-Cola 600 race official: World champion gymnast, celebrity dancer and honor roll student, Shawn Johnson has been named an Honorary Race Official for the Coca-Cola 600. Johnson will be on hand to help celebrate the historic 50th running of NASCAR’s longest race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 24. The 17-year-old Johnson won four medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, then came home and won America’s heart as the youngest-ever winner of the popular ABC television show “Dancing with the Stars.” As an Honorary Race Official for the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson will take part in a number of activities, including interacting with fans, attending the driver’s meeting and greeting all of the drivers during pre-race introductions. During weekend events, Johnson will get a true NASCAR experience when she climbs into an actual race car for a 160 mph ride-along with fan favorite and Coca-Cola Racing Family member Kyle Petty. She’ll also tour the garage at Lowe’s Motor Speedway where she’ll try her hand at typical pit crew jobs such as jacking a car, working an air wrench and changing tires.(Coca-Cola)(5-22-2009)

Packed Scheduled for 50th Coca-Cola 600: As Lowe's Motor Speedway celebrates 50 years of racing with the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600, speedway officials have a number of events scheduled to honor past and present champions and race fans this weekend.Fans to Participate in Windstream Pole Night
Tomorrow night Lowe's Motor Speedway officials will randomly select fans in attendance for Winstream Pole Night to wave the green flag during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying. A total of 47 Sprint Cup cars are entered and will attempt to make the 43-car field for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. Qualifying is scheduled for 7:10pm/et.International Crowd to Attend Coca-Cola 600 Week
Race fans from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries have purchased tickets to attend race festivities at Lowe's Motor Speedway during Coca-Cola 600 Week. Ticket holders will travel from all across the United States, as well as, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to see Windstream Pole Night on Thursday, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown on Friday, CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday and the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. NASCAR Legends to Meet Fans
Race fans will have the opportunity to meet past and present NASCAR personalities at the track throughout the Coca-Cola 600 Weekend. On Thursday and Saturday, past Coca-Cola 600 champions Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Marvin Panch and the official artist of Lowe's Motor Speedway, Sam Bass, will sign autographs in the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 3:00pm/et. Allison, Panch, Donnie Allison, Kyle Petty, Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Bass and Food Network star Tyler Florence will participate in the Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout from 12:00 to 2:00pm/et on Friday. Prior to the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, Panch and both Allison brothers will sign autographs outside of Smith Tower at 11am/et. Special Cars on Display at LMS
Fans will be able to check out several special cars that are a part of Lowe's Motor Speedway's history while at the track this weekend, including: Bobby Allison's #12 Coca-Cola 1969 Mercury Cyclone that he drove to victory in the 1971 Coca-Cola 600 for Holman Moody; the 1971 Wood Brothers Racing #21 Mercury that David Pearson raced at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the 1970s when he scored 11 straight pole awards at the 1.5-mile speedway; the #3 Atlanta Olympics Chevrolet that Dale Earnhardt Sr. drove in the 1996 All-Star Race in honor of the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games; and the #3 GM Goodwrench/Wrangler Chevrolet Earnhardt Sr. drove in the 1999 All-Star Race.Going on 50 Years
Several Lowe's Motor Speedway event-time staffers will hit their 50 year mark with the speedway this month. Dave Suddreth has worked security in the infield since 1960. He's manned pit road and Victory Circle. Earl Springs has sold event programs at Lowe's Motor Speedway since the first race as well. Both will be on duty for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. Commemorative Posters Now on Sale
Posters of the commemorative prints designed by Sam Bass, the official artist of Lowe's Motor Speedway, for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 event programs are now on sale in the Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop, located on the second floor of Smith Tower, across from the ticket office. Bass' latest posters "Silver Knights!" and "Gold Rush!" are available along with copies of the commemorative souvenir programs. He will also be on hand throughout the weekend for autographs.Biffle, Bowyer and Johnson Join 'PRN Up To SPEED' on Sunday
"PRN Up To SPEED" will feature one of the best driver lineups to date for the free fan forums taking place at Lowe's Motor Speedway during Coca-Cola 600 Week. Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer and three-time Coca-Cola 600 champion Jimmie Johnson will join personalities from the Performance Racing Network on the SPEED stage, located at the speedway's main entrance, between 1 to 2pm/et, prior to the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. Past Coca-Cola 600 champions Marvin Panch, Donnie Allison and Bobby Allison will also join the
PRN crew from 12:40 to 1:00pm/et for a special segment of the fan forum. Track President Marcus Smith will welcome the crowd.Tickets are still on sale for Thursday's Windstream Pole Night, Saturday's CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 and Sunday's historic 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. Fans can purchase tickets at the gates on event days or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket services department at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS)(5-21-2009)

Windstream to Host Soldiers & Military Families for Windstream Pole Night: On Thursday, May 21, when the best drivers in the world battle for the pole at the 50th running of the Coca Cola 600, Windstream, a high-speed Internet, phone and digital TV provider, will proudly be hosting 2,500 soldiers and military families from Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps. This marks the second consecutive year the company has donated tickets to military members for the Windstream Pole Night qualifier for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LMS). The year’s 50th anniversary of the famous Memorial Day weekend race will kick off with Junior Johnson getting behind the wheel of Windstream’s signature Green Truck and driving the lead Pole Night parade lap, energizing the fans and race qualifying field. The Green Truck Tour is designed to give back to the local communities that Windstream serves and educate the public about landline safety. The tour, which promotes Windstream’s reliable phone, high-speed Internet and digital TV products and services, runs through November with stops in 14 states. Windstream also is donating $200,000 to eight schools in the company’s service area through its Classroom Connections program. For additional information about the Green Truck Tour and its scheduled stops, visit www.greentrucktour.com.(5-19-2009)

Franklin Graham to Deliver Invocation at 50th Coca-Cola 600: World-renowned evangelist and North Carolina-native Franklin Graham will deliver a 30-minute inspirational message and the invocation during pre-race festivities at the 50th running the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Graham will address the crowd at 2:30pm/et from the stage located at the superspeedway's start-finish line and his message will be broadcast on the speedway's public address system. At approximately 5:45pm, just prior to the green flag, Graham will deliver the invocation before the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner." In addition to Graham's message and invocation during pre-race, he will also assist with Motor Racing Outreach's Sunday service to the drivers and team members in the garage. As an evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, he has led festivals around the world. Lowe's Motor Speedway is the home of NASCAR's biggest back-to-back weekends with the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and 50th Coca-Cola 600. Ticket packages for both events are available through the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-18-2009)

Lowe's Motor Speedway to honor Poole's memory: On Thursday, Lowe Motor Speedway will dedicate the deadline room in its infield media center in honor of David Poole, the Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com writer who died April 28. In addition to his work with the newspaper and its racing site, Poole was an author of numerous books about racing and the sport's personalities. He was a respected authority on stock car racing and his opinions were often sought by others in the media and officials of more than one racing brand. A frequent guest commentator on TV and radio, Poole also co-anchored a popular XM-Sirius program. His wife, Katy, is scheduled to be on hand to receive a special donation to one of the writer and broadcaster's favorite charities.(Charlotte Observer)(5-16-2009) Comment here

Jesse James to sing National Anthem at All-Star race: Mercury recording artist Jessie James will sing "The Star Spangled Banner" for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Kenny Lattimore, a Verve recording artist, will sing "God Bless America" before the start of the Sprint Showdown, the last-chance qualifier for the main event."(LMS)(5-16-2009)

New Amenities and Happenings at LMS for All-Star Race: May Race Weeks have arrived and Lowe's Motor Speedway is gearing up for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with new fan amenities as well as special events.The Nationwide Insurance Fan Pit Stop:
Nationwide is partnering with Lowe's Motor Speedway to help race fans have the best possible experience by hosting The Nationwide Insurance Fan Pit Stop. The massive tents Located across from Gate 7 and in the souvenir lot at the intersection of Hwy. 29 and Bruton Smith Blvd. In the morning, fans can get a breakfast biscuit and coffee for just $2 and for lunch a sandwich and beverage will be available for the same low price. The tent will open at 7:00 a.m. on the morning of the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 and close at the start of the race. On all other event days the Nationwide tent will open one hour prior to the gates and serve food through the start of each race including the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
Lowe's Motor Speedway's Fans First Welcome Center presented by Nationwide Race fans visiting Lowe's Motor Speedway during May Race Weeks will be able to stop by the Fans First Welcome Center presented by Nationwide and get all their race related questions answered by LMS employees. The Welcome Center will provide fans with maps, schedules, refreshments and the opportunity to rent the NASCAR Sprint FanView. This is a great place for first time fans to learn about the speedway and its many amenities. The Welcome Center will open three hours prior to the gates on race days and close at the start of each race.Lowe's Motor Speedway Fan Appreciation Crew
The Lowe's Motor Speedway Fan Appreciation Crew will be cruising the campgrounds in a Toyota Tundra Pace Truck passing out apparel and souvenirs to the campers on speedway property Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 24. Going Gold
The retaining walls at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be gold this year in honor of the speedway's 50 years of racing. A crew of eight painted the walls this week using 800 gallons of paint and a process called "fogging" to do the job. More than 190 man hours will be put in to help ensure the walls are gold before cars go on track Friday.Pass Time
Pass Time is the ultimate drag racing game show. It will host NASCAR drivers, owners, crew chiefs and regional racers for two days of taping at zMAX Dragway, May 19-20. The event will give race fans the chance to watch NASCAR drivers compete at the "Bellagio" of drag strips. Gates open at 3 p.m. and tickets are just $10 for adults with children 12 and under admitted for free.
Lowe's Motor Speedway is the home of NASCAR's biggest back-to-back weekends with the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the 50th Coca-Cola 600. Ticket packages for both events are available through the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(5-15-2009)

Recycling Effort Expanded at LMS: Coca-Cola Recycling and Anheuser-Busch Recycling have joined forces to help race fans support the environment by recycling while attending the Coca-Cola 600 Month of May races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
The joint recycling effort is an expansion of the program Anheuser-Busch launched at the speedway last May. Almost 5,000 pounds of
aluminum and plastic beverage containers were collected on speedway property during the 10-day span of events that month. An increased effort in October for the fall NASCAR races netted more than 4,000 pounds of recyclables in a four-day period. Anheuser-Busch also supplied bins to the Lowe's Motor Speedway offices for the staff to recycle year round. This year Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch have partnered to provide more than 400 recycling barrels that will be placed around the speedway's display areas, hospitality areas, concourse, infield and suites during the May race weeks to collect plastic and aluminum beverage containers. The recycling program will be in place May 15 - 24 at the 1.5-mile superspeedway. For the Coca-Cola 600 weekend, the Coca-Cola Recycling Education Vehicle will also be at the speedway. The 40-foot trailer features videos, games and prizes, all designed to inform and educate fans about the value of
recycling in a fun and interactive setting. The recycling efforts of fans at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the May races will be rewarded with donations made to Speedway Children's Charities and the NASCAR Foundation. Ticket packages and payment plan options for all events are available through the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-15-2009)

Coca-Cola Drops Green Flag on Summer with 'Quarter-Mile Cookout' at LMS: Coca-Cola will ignite the summer barbecue season Memorial Day weekend by firing up the nation's longest grill at the site of NASCAR's longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Requiring more than 7,000 pounds of Kingsford Charcoal, the monster-sized ring of fire will measure an astonishing 1,320 feet - spanning more than four football fields in length if stretched end to end. The colossal grill will be used to cook up a feast for fans attending the "Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout" on Friday, May 22. The oval-shaped quarter-mile grill - assembled on part of the racetrack's frontstretch and pit road - will be manned by celebrity chef and Food Network star Tyler Florence, host of "Tyler's Ultimate" and author of "Dinner at My Place" and "Stirring the Pot." Joining Chef Florence will be some of NASCAR's most popular drivers, including Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty, and racing legend Bobby Allison, all of whom will trade their fire suits for "track aprons" as they help grill up lunch for thousands of fans. The event is free and open to all ticket and annual credential holders for the historic 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. The action will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the racetrack near the Speedway's start/finish line. The menu will feature hamburgers and hotdogs, along with Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad pasta salads and Betty Crocker Original Supreme brownies. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 are available online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(5-14-2009)

National Tailgating League hosts inaugural event at Coke 600: The National Tailgating League (The NTL), a newly formed organization created to sanction and execute organized tailgating games including Cornhole, Ladder Golf and Washer Toss competitions, announced today details for the first officially sanctioned event during Memorial Day weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. In conjunction with the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600, the inaugural NTL doubles cornhole tournaments will take place on May 23 and May 24 in the campgrounds of LMS. By holding its inaugural event during Memorial Day weekend at one of the largest tailgating parties in the world, the NTL cornhole tournaments will provide fans, gamers and everyone in between with the opportunity to experience firsthand what the league is all about - bringing fans together for good times and great games while also trying to find and identify the "Cornhole King of the Campgrounds." The inaugural NTL doubles cornhole tournaments, which will take place in the campgrounds of LMS on the corner of Highway 29 and Morehead Road in Concord, NC, will consist of a morning and afternoon doubles tournament on both Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. Cornhole gamers and race enthusiasts will be playing for a host of prizes including $500 cash and race-related experiences such as tickets, suite passes and other unique experiential packages. Interested race fans and gamers that want to participate in one of the inaugural NTL doubles cornhole tournaments can reserve a spot by signing up today at www.TheNTL.com or can visit the tournament site starting as early as Thursday, May 21 prior to the Windstream Pole Night. Each of the four weekend tournaments will hold 50 teams of two and sign-ups are on a first come, first serve basis.(NTL PR)(5-7-2009)

Lowe's Motor Speedway's 99-Cents Value Menu to Debut in May: Diligent in the pursuit of lowering the cost for fans to attend a NASCAR race, officials at Lowe's Motor Speedway provided relief at the concession stands on Wednesday by announcing a new
99-Cents Value Menu that will debut in May during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend. Through a partnership with Levy Restaurants, five concession stands throughout the speedway's concourse will carry the specially priced menu, which consists of a hot dog, hamburger slider, uncrustable peanut butter and jelly sandwich, potato chips and popcorn. In addition, the menu will include
two special offers of 12 hot dogs for $10 and 10 hamburgers for $8. This effort is the latest way that Lowe's Motor Speedway has worked
with business partners to reduce the overall cost of attending a NASCAR race. Earlier this year, speedway officials worked with regional visitor's bureaus and area hotels to reduce room rates and waive the minimum stay requirements at more than 90 hotels within a one hour radius of the speedway. In addition to these cost-saving measures, Lowe's Motor Speedway will offer a $20 souvenir combo that includes a t-shirt and hat, which normally retails for $48, and the popular Coca-Cola 600 Family Four-Pack returns offering fans four tickets, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola products for only $39.75 per person. The 99-Cents Value Menu is just one of the many food items that Levy
Restaurants will be providing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May. Also making their NASCAR debut at the Sprint All-Star Race are Levy's "State Fair" creations including the deep fried grilled cheese sandwich with tomato dipping sauce, golden fried honey bun topped with powdered sugar and the deep fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ticket packages and payment plan options for both events are available through the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-7-2009)

The New Coca-Cola 600 Trophy

Kahne Joins LMS Officials to Unveil New Coca-Cola 600 Trophy: When Lowe's Motor Speedway celebrates the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, the winner of the race will not only take home the lion's share of the recording-breaking nearly $6.7 million purse, he will also receive the priceless new trophy speedway officials unveiled Monday. Defending Coca-Cola 600 champion Kasey Kahne ('06, '08) joined Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith and Lowe's Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith to reveal the trophy to the public for the first time in The Speedway Club. More than 120 man-hours of work went into the design and
construction of the finished piece of artwork that weighs 225 pounds. The trophy is 18 inches wide and 31 inches tall. The base was cut from black Oscuro marble and the center was bored out to relieve weight and accommodate the vertical portion of the trophy. The first World 600, 50th Coca-Cola 600 and Lowe's Motor Speedway Fifty Years of Firsts logos are engraved across the front of the base. In the center of the base sits the familiar prize that winners of the Coca-Cola 600 have received since 1981. The piston was cast in Everdur
bronze and plated with 22-carat gold. Surrounding it are 10 monolithic columns of fine crystal that were hand-etched with the winners' names and dates from the past 49 Coca-Cola 600s. The name of the winner of the 50th Coca-Cola 600 will be added to both a crystal column and the marble base. The new trophy was conceptualized by Efron Design and constructed by Innocast Execuline. Coca-Cola 600 ticket prices start at just $39.75 per person with a Coca-Cola four-pack purchase and are available through the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-5-2009)

Sam Bass unveils artwork for LMS program covers: Renowned motorsports artist Sam Bass, along with officials from Lowe's Motor Speedway, today unveiled two original paintings that will grace the covers of souvenir programs for two of the most significant events in the track's history: the 25th edition of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the 50th running of the iconic Coca-Cola 600. A high impact illustration entitled "Silver Knights!" appears on the cover of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race souvenir publication, while the
Coca-Cola 600 program features an equally poignant artwork called "Gold Rush!" Of course, the titles allude to the silver and golden anniversaries of the two prestigious events. The most recent collaboration between Bass and the Concord, N.C. speedway extends one of the longest running streaks in all of motorsports. A record 59 consecutive covers have been designed by Bass - NASCAR's first officially licensed artist - dating back to the inaugural All-Star Race and Coca-Cola's first year as the title sponsor of the 600. Sam Bass's personal studio and motorsports art gallery in Concord, N.C., are adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway. He is the first officially licensed artist of NASCAR. For more information please call (704) 455-6915, or log on to www.sambass.com, where you can view the covers of the programs.(LMS PR)(5-5-2009)

Lowe's Motor Speedway Takes Trackside Luxury Camping to the Next Level: Setting a new standard in trackside camping, Lowe's Motor Speedway officials revealed plans for a new luxury RV lot that will be located just outside the apex of Turns 1 and 2, overlooking the 1.5-mile superspeedway. The camping lot will feature the largest motor home spaces in all of NASCAR and give campers a spectacular view of Lowe's Motor Speedway's legendary quad-oval. Each space will include 10 race tickets, a 10-foot viewing area in front of the RV space, live race feeds via closed-circuit television, catering options from Levy Restaurants, a concierge service, wireless Internet access and fully-equipped water, electrical and sewer hookups. The trackside luxury camping lot will feature 18 total camping spaces with
three different sizes available. The smallest 10 spaces are 30-by-60 feet, which will match the largest current camping spaces in NASCAR. Two larger sizes are offered as well-five 36-by-60 feet spaces and three giant spaces measuring 40-by-60 feet each. Construction is underway and will be completed in time for the May NASCAR event weekends. All trackside luxury camping spaces are on sale now for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16, and 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. Spaces are available on an annual or weekend basis, including the Bank of America 500 on October 17. Additional information about trackside luxury camping can be obtained by contacting the Lowe's Motor Speedway corporate sales department at 704-455-3203. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 start at $49, while tickets for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race begin at only $25 and can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(3-19-2009)

Lowe's Motor Speedway's Fund-Racing Program: Lowe's Motor Speedway officials have launched a new program, Fund-Racing, that will generate money for non-profit organizations that partner with the speedway to sell tickets to race events.Non-profit groups can earn from $4 to $14 per ticket sold to a variety of race events, including the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Windstream Pole Night, CARQUEST Auto Parts 300, Bojangles' Pole Night, Dollar General 300, Bank of America 500 and the Summer Shootout Series. Through the program, participating non-profit groups are provided with an offer code for a special page on the Lowe's Motor Speedway Web site. Every ticket sold through the Web site with their specific code will generate money for the organization. Additionally, order forms are available for one-on-one sales. Several local organizations have already signed up to participate, including Abilities Unlimited of the Carolinas, Hendrick Marrow Foundation, Independence High School Band Boosters, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Motor Racing Outreach. The Fund-Racing program is a year-round fundraising opportunity. No
contract, commitment or minimums are required for an organization to participate. For more information about Fund-Racing, or to register for the program, non-profit groups should call (704) 455-3294 or e-mail fundracing@lowesmotorspeedway.com.(3-15-2009)

'50 Years of Firsts' History Display To Open Coca-Cola 600 Month of May: An interactive 50 Years of Firsts display will open with an appearance by Kasey Kahne to kick off the Coca-Cola 600 Month of May as part of Lowe's Motor Speedway's 50th year celebration. Kahne, the 2008 Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 defending champion, will join speedway officials at 1:00pm/et on Monday, May 4, to open the 17,424 square foot display located near the speedway's main entrance at Highway 29 and Bruton Smith Boulevard. The exhibit will be open daily through Sunday, May 24, in conjunction with the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office operating hours and admission will be free of charge.
The display will feature a variety of artifacts, memorabilia and race cars from five decades of NASCAR stock car racing at Lowe's Motor
Speedway, including Bobby Allison's 1969 #12 Mercury that he drove to Victory Lane in the 1971 World 600 and David Pearson's 1971 #21 Mercury that he won the 1973 National 500 pole award in, setting off an 11-race pole award streak at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Fans will also be able to view the 1959 Charlotte Motor Speedway articles of incorporation signed by Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner; the trophy Joe Lee Johnson received for winning the first World 600 in 1960; artifacts from many drivers including Janet Guthrie and Alan Kulwicki; plus a video chronicling the 50-year evolution of NASCAR's most innovative speedway.
The display will also include video vignettes of the 32 greatest moments in racing history at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a victory lane backdrop for fan photos and an autograph area for fans to meet NASCAR drivers and personalities during race weeks. Lowe's Motor Speedway officials are working with the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, N.C., and many of the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams to obtain additional items for the exhibit. Tickets for the NASCAR race events at Lowe's Motor Speedway including the May 16 Sprint All-Star Race and May 24 Coca-Cola 600 are on sale now and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(3-15-2009)

Charlotte-Area Hotels Reduce Race Week Room Rates: In a collaborative effort, regional tourism bureaus and officials at Lowe's Motor Speedway have worked with area hotel operators to secure lower room rates for race fans attending the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16, and the 50th Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. More than 80 hotels within approximately one hour of the 1.5-mile superspeedway have agreed to reduce their race week room rates by 15 percent and waive their minimum stay requirements.
The full list of participating hotels is available online for fans to reference at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/hotels. The speedway's ticket
services representatives also have the full listing of hotels and can advise fans that call 1-800-455-FANS. In order to obtain the discounted rate, race fans must call the hotels directly and request the Speedway Special when making reservations. In addition to the lower hotel rates, cost savings extend to the speedway as well. The Coca-Cola 600 Family Four Pack, which includes four race tickets to the Coca-Cola 600, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola brand soft drinks, is available for just $39.75 a person. Similarly, the Rite Aid Family Four Pack includes four tickets to the Sprint All-Star Race, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola brand soft drinks for the low price of $24.75 a person. The May Super Ticket special is also available, allowing fans the opportunity to see Windstream Pole Night qualifying, the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race and the Coca-Cola 600, all for as low as $89. Fans can also choose from a wide selection of affordable grandstand seating options with payment plans available to reserve a ticket for the Sprint All-Star Race starting at just $8 per month. Payment plans for a ticket to the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 are as low as $16 per month. Race fans are reminded that Lowe's Motor Speedway offers 164 acres of free parking and numerous affordable camping options are also available. Coolers, limited to 14 inches in any direction, are also permitted in the grandstands.(LMS PR)(3-5-2009)

Drivers to Conduct Fan Forums at Speedway Motorsports Races: NASCAR drivers and Speedway Motorsports are teaming up to bring fans closer to their favorite drivers than ever before. The new "PRN Up To SPEED" program will bring NASCAR's top names out for fan forums at the SPEED Stage during each of the 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends at Speedway Motorsports' seven speedways across the country. The Performance Racing Network's on-air personalities will emcee question-and-answer sessions with some of the sport's biggest personalities at the SPEED Stage leading up to SPEED's regularly scheduled weekend programming.
"PRN Up To SPEED" will kick off Sunday at 9:30am/et, at the SPEED Stage located in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway midway. The stellar lineup will include Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch, legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. Each Speedway Motorsports track [Atlanta, Bristol, Infineon, Las Vegas, Lowe's, New Hampshire, Texas] that hosts a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will hold "PRN Up To SPEED" sessions during their respective race weekend. The location of the SPEED Stage may vary from track to track, but at all Speedway Motorsports facilities, the stage is always located in an area where access is free of charge for fans.(SMI PR)(3-1-2009) Comment here

Lowe's Motor Speedway to Set Guinness World Record: Lowe's Motor Speedway will set a Guinness World Record at the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, by giving 50,000 fans a total of $2.5 million in giveaways. Speedway staff will present the first 50,000 fans through the gates on race day with a commemorative adidas sport bag. The black bags will feature the 50th Coca-Cola 600 logo and contain prizes, merchandise and coupons from various track sponsors. In celebration of the speedway's 50th year of racing, the retail value for each bag and its contents will be $50, making the grand total $2.5 million in prizes, and creating a world record for the largest prize giveaway at a sports event. Tickets for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 start at just $49. Additional information for this event and all events at Lowe's Motor Speedway can be obtained online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(2-22-2009)

Bobby Allison named Grand Marshal of Coke 600: Fans will be witness to history even before the green flag drops on the 50th Coca-Cola 600, as Coca-Cola and Lowe's Motor Speedway pay tribute to the legends who have made the race one of NASCAR's crown jewels over the last half century. Thrilling memories will be on display as every former winner of the Coca-Cola 600 is honored during a special celebration prior to the milestone 50th running of NASCAR's longest race. Serving as Grand Marshal - and representing all 26 drivers who have taken the checkered flag at the Coca-Cola 600 - will be NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, a three-time winner of
the race (1971, 1981 and 1984). Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers and a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Allison won 84 races in his storied career, tying him for third place all-time with Darrell Waltrip. In addition to delivering the most famous words in motorsports - "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" - Allison is set to take a ceremonial victory lap around Lowe's Motor Speedway in the actual Coca-Cola-sponsored 1969 Mercury Cyclone he drove to victory in the 1971 Coca-Cola 600. The car is currently on display at the Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, N.C. "The Coca-Cola 600 has always been one of the most grueling events
on the NASCAR schedule and I can honestly say that every winner of this race was a tremendous competitor," said Allison. "I'm proud to serve as Grand Marshal, to be a part of Coca-Cola's rich tradition with NASCAR and represent all the drivers who have made it to Victory Lane at this great race." Many of NASCAR's greatest drivers are among the winners of the Coca-Cola 600, including Richard Petty, David Pearson, Donnie Allison, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Buddy Baker, Marvin Panch and Fred Lorenzen. The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest continuous race sponsorship in NASCAR. Traditionally the Coca-Cola 600 attracts approximately 180,000 fans to Lowe's Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend. This year's race will be broadcast live on FOX on Sunday, May 24. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 are available online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS PR)(1-21-2009)

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series teams ran at Charlotte last weekend . . . Charlotte is the first track at which this left-side tire code (D-4248) has been run . . . it has a softer compound than the left-side run at Charlotte last year and will give the cars more grip . . . this right-side tire code (D-4234) was run with great success earlier this season by Sprint Cup and Nationwide cars at Las Vegas . . . this tire set-up was tested at Charlotte on March 17-18 . . . participating in that test were Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet), Kasey Kahne (Dodge), Marcos Ambrose (Toyota) and Paul Menard (Ford) . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

DRIVER/TEAM/TESTING NEWS

#36 team gets sponsor for Coke 500:Cooter’s Backyard Bar & Grill will sponsor the hood of the #36 team and Scott Riggs for Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Cooter’s is located in Murrellls Inlet, S.C. [near Myrtle Beach], and provides their guests with a wholesome family environment. Menu items include: bbq, burgers, seafood, pasta, chicken, steak, ribs and fried bologna sandwiches. They are also the home of the “world famous atomic buffalo turds.”
“I am excited for Cooter’s to be on the hood this weekend,” said Tommy Baldwin, owner and crew chief of the No.36 entry. “Edward Williams, owner of Cooter’s, races late model stocks and knows what sponsorship means to the success of a team. I hope we bring home a solid finish for Cooter’s Bar & Grill.”(TBR)(5-24-2009)

Shea Trucking an Associate Sponsor on #36 at Charlotte and Dover: Shea Trucking, a Long Island, N.Y., based trucking company has signed a two-race associate sponsorship deal with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Shea Trucking will be the associate sponsor of the #36 Toyota driven by Scott Riggs at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway. The Shea Trucking logo will be featured on the C-post and the TV panel of the #36 machine. To learn more about Shea Trucking please visit
www.sheatrucking.com.(Everest-Marketing Group/TBR PR)(5-20-2009)

Race #800 for Elliott: #21-Bill Elliott, driving the Motorcraft Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, will make his 800th career start Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Elliott is currenty 7th in the all-time Sprint Cup start list behind Richard Petty (1184 starts), Ricky Rudd (906), Dave Marcis (883), Terry Labonte (883) and Kyle Petty (829). The best of the top 10 are all active drivers: Sterling Marlin (744), Michael Waltrip (736) and Mark Martin (733). Only four of the top-10 have won a championship.(5-21-2009) Comment here

See the 2009 Team Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.